"sweet, refreshing rain!"// late night ramble edition two

Whoever can guess what movie that quote in the title is from wins...a virtual high five! :)

"Well...I'm back." (guessed the movie? you get a high five too). No, I haven't fallen off of the face of the planet. I'm still here, alive and breathing after taking an unannounced break to finish school. 

I had to finish science, history, and economics, as well as write a report on the right to bear arms...gun laws and gun control etc.

It was good to delve into the subject of government and legislation and write out my thoughts on the subject of bearing arms. I actually began to enjoy researching and watching debates. I'm glad to be finished now though. The  realization that I've nearly graduated from high school (I say nearly because my paper still needs to be read and graded) hasn't really hit me yet. But, I'm excited. Yes. I'm excited to end one season of my life and begin a new one. I plan on further studying subjects of interest at home and also focusing on getting my driver's license this month!





one report writing night... :)

Today was a good day.

The weather started out dreary and dark with the cloud cover. It was strange because it was dreary, yet warm out. I spent the day writing letters. hurray for pen-pals and snail mail! I read a bit as well. Ishmael and Self Raised are SO interesting. Self Raised is keeping me on my toes. Read about them here and here. I'm loving getting back to reading again.

This evening, it began to pour rain! It was gorgeous outside I ran in the rain with my sister, Emma who is always ready to do those kinds of things with me. She wanted me to pretend I was Colonel Brandon and she was going to be Marianne. Oh that dramatic scene with Colonel Brandon yelling "Marianne!" over and over again. No, we didn't do that. I thought it would be just too strange. So we ran and laughed in the rain instead. Good plan. :)





When the rain stopped, it left the such a glorious sky behind.

Ah. I was in love. So beautiful, so peaceful.

Such a perfect way to end the day.



I'm glad to be blogging again. It makes me happy.

How was your summer? Comment and tell me a favorite memory, perhaps?

Blessings!

~Madi

This is to cherishing sweet, special moments spent with family

Though I'm not a photographer, I still like trying my hand at photography every now and again. I love being able to capture scenery, little details, and simple, yet meaningful moments with family and friends.

During the week of Christmas, two of my sisters and I spent a couple of days at my Aunt and Uncles house. One afternoon, we stepped outside into the fresh, cold air. Hoping to take some portraits of my little cousins, I grabbed the camera, but eventually ended up throwing out the idea of capturing posed portraits when I saw that my cousins simply wanted to play with me. 

While I ran around with my cousins, I captured some candids that, although aren't perfect, are special because they are of moments that I treasure. These pictures, are some of my favorites of that day. 

 This is to a day spent with family, 

to Juniper and her sweet smile

 and to her funny forced smile that makes me laugh ;)

This is to Juniper's contemplative face 

and the large leaf she was so happy to find.

This to Irie, 

who ran around in her tutu and boots.

And this is to the little smirk she gave me

 before she quickly looked away 

as she caught me pointing the camera in her direction. 

This is the innocent fascination my little cousins had 

over finding a worm in the dirt, 

to auntie's love for nature that she shares with her children,

and Irie's jolly giggle that brings a smile to my face

This is to my auntie who I love so much,

 who always welcomes us warmly into her home with joy, 

and who shared many moments of laughter 

with my sisters and I.

This is to Kenny who dashed around the yard in excitement

here and there, chasing the chickens

and making us laugh

This is to the bouncy jaunt Juniper does 

when she's really really really happy. :)

This is to shoes put on the wrong feet

To my beautiful sister emma, who has a really sweet heart 

and a contagious laugh

This is to joy

to playing the simple game of "red-light-green-light"

to laughter

to my beautiful sister Lainie 

who's smile I love to see

and to cherishing sweet special moments spent with family

A Sunlit Evening//Portraits

(this photo was taken my my sister Emma)

I am constantly inspired by the gorgeous photos I see on Pinterest and on blogs that I read. I repin so many pictures because I am in awe of how the light is captured. This week I was inspired to go out and attempt to capture light during golden hour for the first time. The very first evening I attempted to capture light, I went out way too early and my poor sister was squinting in the sun and the pictures turned out very bright and washed out. However, I tried again a few nights later and this time, having read about what lighting I should look for, I struck gold and I had so much fun. I hope my sisters did as well. Even though I still have sooooo much to learn about photography I am happy with how these pictures turned out. Sunlight can be so fun to work with.

Much love, friends!

~Madi

Dancing in the Rain and Recent Happenings

        Yesterday, the weather was in complete contrast to the sunniness of last week. It rained! Towards the end of the day, the rain was calling me to go out and enjoy it. So, I grabbed Emma, (my go-getter sister who readily joins me on my silly adventures) and we ran outside into the rain. We swirled around; we danced and laughed. It was quite fun.The weather was unusually humid and warm, so the cool drops of rain on my cheeks and arms felt refreshing.

please excuse the blurriness of some of the following pics.

these are our exuberant-happy-excited-for-rain faces

   

As the night became darker, my camera happy self couldn't resist taking some photos of the street light and the glistening pavement.
 I also had fun attempting to capture a picture of the rain drops.

 

I must have looked so funny with my sister's white sweater draped over my head to cover the camera from getting wet.
Oh well! haha A photographers got to do what a photographers got to do, right? :)

        So far, this week has consisted of writing and solving equations, practicing music for the youth band that I'm a part of, singing songs with my sisters and attempting to harmonize; listening to the Michael Buble station on Pandora and dancing to the fun upbeat music as well; eating gluten free gingersnaps and drinking raw milk; reading a play with my sisters; cooking; watching War Horse for the first time (I thought it was a really good movie); and watching the next episode of The Legend of Korra, the avatar series after The Last Airbender. I'm not quite sure what to think of it yet, and I'm not sure if it'll be better than The Last Airbender, but it's definitely leaving us all on a cliff hanger!

What about you? How has your week been friends? Anyone else watching the Legend of Korra...hmmm?

Much love and many blessings!

 ~Madi

Absolutely Stunning

So I stepped downstairs this afternoon, schoolbooks in hand, and looked, out that large window in our front room...(yep. a dangerous...very...dangerous thing to do see this post).

Well...
.....


.....


....


...

this. This is what I saw!

One glance,

 my mouth dropped open,

I squealed for excitement,

and yes,

grabbed the camera. ;)

This just speaks for itself, doesn't it? I can't adequately describe such magnificence.

God paints the most beautiful pictures!

*sigh*  simply breathtaking! And no edit. I promise. ;)

Much love and many blessings, friends!

Hope you're having a great week so far!

Love,

Madi

a rainy day + pictures + thoughts

 

I woke up this morning to my home, and the world around it, having been graced with rain.

Making my way down the stairs, I placed my Bible, along with a few study books,

 on the old blue rocking chair that sits in our front room. 

 My eyes were then drawn to the large glass window that faces our front yard.

I stood there, looking at the rain.

 I loved how lightly it fell,

how beautiful and delicate the little the raindrops looked

as they clung to the branches of our tree.

I couldn't resist. 

 Camera in hand,  I stepped outside.

The coolness of the morning air surrounded me.

All I could hear was the click click of my camera

and the pitter patter of the rain as it sprinkled gently to the ground. 

I relished the cold, my eyes ever searching for things to photograph.

I'm loving the rain.

As I write this, 

the heavy winds stir outside,

the rain pours steadily.
And here I am,
sitting cozy in my home.

Thankful,

for the rain that provides water

and causes things to grow,

for the calm

and for the Lord

who promises

to take care of all that He's made.

"Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you can add a single hour to his life?

And why and why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow;

they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all of his glory

clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today

and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things;  for your heavenly Father knows

that you need all these things. But seek first is kingdom and His righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow;

for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

~Matthew 6:25-34

If our God who made you, me,

who made Heaven and earth

If our God 

who always keeps His promises,

who never changes,

says these words,

He means it. I am comforted.
Thank you my dear Lord and Savior for your loving care!